What would seem like a reel-life saga that brought phenomenal fame and acclaim to yester-year legendary Telugu film actress Jamuna, is evidently reality, as she came out in the open today about the harassment her daugher Sravanthi was subjected to by the latter's husband Rahul and his family over dowry.

Speaking of the ordeal, Jamuna said that Rahul initially refused to take any dowry, but talks of dowry began within days into the marriage, at Sravanthi's in-laws' home. Her daughter was subjected to tremendous pressure to get an abortion, said the actress, adding that Rahul even come to attack the now-aged woman at her own residence.

Sravanthi & Rahul, who had a love marriage, have a son who is 3 years old now.

Sravanthi, narrating the incident of Radhika Bansal who committed suicide out of dowry harassment, revealed that Radhika was her classmate and a close friend during her school days, and that when she informed her husband of Radhika's death, he replied saying that maybe some day she might commit suicide similarly, too.

Sravanthi said that her husband also used to mess with her psychological well-being, constantly telling her that she might die of some accident or another.

Speaking to those who suffer similar dowry harassment, Sravanthi told women not to stay silent, and to never feel scared and give up their lives for somebody else. Fight for yourself, was her advice.

Amid tears, Jamuna expressed how she saw her son-in-law as her own son, and even tried to get him into the movies. Sravanthi filed for divorce, and the case is pending in court. Cases have been registered under Sections 498 (A) IPC (cruelty to wife by husband or relatives), 506 IPC (criminal intimidation), and sections 4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, against the in-laws and her husband.

The husband, Rahul, is absconding, and his family is said to be using the clout of the CM and other powerful political influences to stay out of trouble. The mother-in-law and father-in-law of Sravanthi have both been arrested and are in the Chanchalguda jail.

Jamuna is a renown social worker. A famous actress, she worked opposite NTR, ANR and other top heroes of the time.

People who marry girls with ulterior motive of extracting dowry should be subjected to severe punishment. A separate law has to be enacted if existing laws are not sufficient to deal with them. The beneficiaries of dowry should be imposed tax at the highest slab. Parents as well as newly wedded couple should give a declaration on marriage expenses while applying for marriage certificates. Severe punishment should be given if people give false declarations. Press, media and NGOs should expose such extravagant marriages as well as marriages involving high dowries. Ideally a boy should do slavery at bride's house, having sold himself by taking dowry. I appreciate the boldness of Sravanthi and I wish that it should be an eye-opener to others.

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